article · BMC Research Notes
A community-based cross-sectional study in Adama town, Central Ethiopia, assessed the prevalence and contributing factors of chronic undernutrition, known as stunting, among 616 pairs of parents and children under five years of age. Anthropometric measurements converted to height-for-age indices based on World Health Organization references revealed that 44.4 percent of the children surveyed were stunted. Statistical analysis demonstrated that stunting was significantly associated with several socio-economic and health variables. These factors included the mother's educational attainment, the number of under-five children living in the household, and financial decision-making controlled solely by the husband. In addition, the timing of introducing complementary foods and recent episodes of diarrhoea within the preceding two weeks were significantly linked to stunting. Interventions focusing on maternal education, family planning, and guidance on child-care practices are recommended to address these risks.
Chronic undernutrition severely impairs child growth and development. By identifying that maternal education, household financial dynamics, feeding practices, and childhood illnesses are tied to stunting, this research highlights key domestic and social areas where public health programmes and community support can focus to improve child nutrition outcomes.
The abstract outlines epidemiological survey data and does not indicate a commercial application pathway. However, the identified risk factors could inform developers of public health programmes or non-governmental organisations designing maternal education and child nutrition interventions.
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OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with stunting among under five children in Adama town, Central Ethiopia, 2013. A community based cross sectional study was conducted on 616 parent child pairs of under five children using structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. World health organization new growth reference was used to convert height measurements into Z-scores of the height for age indices considering age and sex of the children. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed at P value < 0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that 44.4% of under five children were stunted. The findings showed that a significant positive association between stunting and mother educational status (AOR = 3.69 95% CI 1.42, 9.58), number of under five children in the house hold (AOR = 2.8 95% CI 1.77, 4.42), decision making on the use of money only by husband (AOR = 4.43 95% CI 2.51, 7.80), age of complementary foods started (AOR = 7.52 95% CI 3.39, 16.68), presence of diarrhea in the last two week (AOR = 1.79 95% CI 1.13, 2.83). Therefore, this study recommends intervention strategies focusing on encouraging women education, family planning and education on child caring practice.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4552-1
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